Alaska

In Alaska’s cannabis stores, a trend has developed: Marijuana is often priced by its potency. Much like the alcohol percentage displayed on a bottle of wine, cannabis labels include THC percentages, which usually range from the low-teens to the mid-20s. But is the more expensive bud – as much as 60 to 80 percent more — worth the price? […]

Alaska marijuana regulators have fined the operator of a pot competition, the Alaska Cannabis Classic, saying the event illegally sold marijuana and promoted public consumption. The Cannabis Classic, which took place May 19 in Anchorage, was fined $20,000, with $15,000 suspended. That means the operator will have to pay only $5,000 so long as the event […]

Taking a cue from the fight over immigration, some states that have legalized marijuana are considering providing so-called sanctuary status for licensed pot businesses, hoping to protect the fledgling industry from a shift in federal enforcement policy. Just hours after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on Jan. 4 that federal prosecutors would be free to crack down on […]

Four governors of states where voters have legalized marijuana for recreational use are asking the Trump administration to leave in place an Obama-era agreement that gave exemptions to the legal pot industry. In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the governors asked the Justice Department to maintain a 2013 […]

The state announced Tuesday (Feb. 21) a new head for the office in charge of regulating alcohol and marijuana. Erika McConnell has worked in Anchorage’s municipal planning department for more than a decade. More recently, she wrote the city’s regulations for commercial cannabis businesses. McConnell’s new job as director of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office […]

Two Kenai Peninsula growers wasted no time delivering their product to the state’s first cannabis testing facility when it opened its doors at 8 a.m. Monday in Anchorage, one of the final steps before Alaskans can legally purchase marijuana. Leif Abel, co-owner of Greatland Ganja, walked into CannTest LLC right after the testing lab opened; he’d gotten up at 4 a.m. to make […]

At Tuesday’s Anchorage Assembly meeting, just two people spoke out against a midtown marijuana business that a Campbell Elementary School employee protested in a school message to parents on Monday. The employee, who has not be identified, sent out an audio message to all parents at the school, urging them to attend the meeting and oppose […]

Alaska is likely just weeks away from the state’s first legal marijuana sales, according to Cynthia Franklin, the Director of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control office. As of Sept. 28, there are 33 marijuana businesses listed in “active status” for their licenses. These businesses are some of the closest to operating under the new regulations, […]

Alaska-based soldiers have been barred from attending any events involving promotion of the use of marijuana or hemp, including all fairs, festivals and conventions, to clarify the military’s position as the state prepares to allow legal pot sales. The policy, issued by Maj. Gen. Bryan Owens, commander of U.S. Army Alaska, was announced Thursday and […]

Alaska marijuana regulators have approved the first permit for a pot retail store. The Alaska Marijuana Control Board on Thursday approved the permit for Frozen Budz, which will be located in Fairbanks. Co-owner Destiny Neade received a round of applause from the audience and clapped herself. As she walked back to her seat, she told […]

The Anchorage Assembly approved the city’s first commercial marijuana grow Tuesday night, a significant step forward for the developing legal cannabis industry. “This whole green revolution, it starts here tonight with the City of Anchorage,” said Assemblyman Dick Traini who voted to approve the local marijuana license and special-use permit for Dream Green Farms and to refer […]

Alaska’s Marijuana Control Board ended its historic June meeting Friday afternoon after approving most of the grower licenses on its agenda and voting to open up future discussions about advertising and out-of-state investment. On Thursday, the state’s first-ever commercial marijuana businesses were approved. On Friday, the board picked up where it left off, jumping into cultivation license approvals. […]

Alaska regulators were applauded Thursday as they approved the first licenses for legal marijuana growing and testing facilities — another milestone for the fledgling industry. Priority was being given to growing and testing operations to ensure that retail stores will have legal product to sell. The first retail licenses are expected to be issued later […]

No happy hours, but serving food and non-alcoholic beverages would be allowed in Alaska’s marijuana cafes, according to draft rules accepted by the state’s Marijuana Control Board. On Tuesday, the board agreed on draft regulations that show the first details of what the “on-site consumption” area, akin to a café or bar, would look like. The draft […]

Anchorage’s Pot Luck Events is the only marijuana social club still operating without a legal challenge, as statewide puzzlement to their legality produces a patchwork of local controls. Fairbanks’ The Higher Calling and Homer’s Kachemak Cannabis Club have both closed, and the City of Kenai is seeking an injunction against Green Rush Events. The clubs, […]

Prospective marijuana business owner Bryant Thorp was the very first person in Alaska to get word that his cannabusiness application was complete, except for one thing — a background check that the state doesn’t have the legal authority to conduct. In the Marijuana Control Board’s March 25 letter to Thorp the agency wrote that it couldn’t […]

JUNEAU, Alaska — The board tasked with regulating the Alaska marijuana industry provided guidance Thursday for yet-to-be-drafted rules to allow for people to use marijuana at certain stores that will sell it. Staff to the Marijuana Control Board had hoped to provide language for an onsite consumption retail endorsement for the meeting but, given its […]

With less than two weeks to go before the first entrepreneurs can apply for an Alaska marijuana license, the Alaska Marijuana Control Board on Thursday approved the forms and documents that await those who seek to grow, test, sell and make products from Alaska’s newest legal crop. That bit of bureaucratic business was overshadowed, however, […]